Resting energy expenditure in subjects with fibro-calculous pancreatic diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Fibro-calculous pancreatic diabetes is an indigenous disorder present in populations largely in tropical regions. Energy expenditure through indirect calorimetry has not been studied in this disorder and may provide important clues as to the pathogenesis of diabetes in these patients. METHODS: A total of 51 males in three groups comprising fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes (FCPD) (group 1; n = 24), type 2 diabetes (group 2; n = 15) and healthy controls (group 3; n = 12) were studied. The body composition was measured using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) and the REE was estimated using indirect calorimetry. The predicted energy expenditure (PEE) was calculated using three different equations. RESULTS: Patients in both groups with diabetes had a higher mean waist-hip ratio than the controls (P = 0.002). However patients with type 2 diabetes alone had a significantly higher mean body mass index (P = 0.012), percentage of fat (P = 0.016) and total fat content (P = 0.031). There was no significant difference in REE among the three groups. After adjustment of body mass index (BMI), the REE was significantly higher in patients with FCPD than in those patients with Type 2 diabetes. PEE correlated poorly with indirect calorimetry. CONCLUSIONS: Energy expenditure in patients with diabetes varies according to the composition and distribution of body fat and is lower in patients with FCPD. Standard predictive equations were not accurate for the assessment of energy expenditure in patients with FCPD. Further research is required to recommend specific nutritional therapy for this group of patients.

Predictors of osteodystrophy in patients with chronic nonalcoholic pancreatitis with or without diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To study bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), vitamin D status, and bone mineral variables in patients with chronic nonalcoholic pancreatitis and to determine the relationship between pancreatic dysfunction and these variables. METHODS: Thirty-one eligible nonalcoholic men with proven chronic pancreatitis and 35 male control subjects were studied. Biochemical data, variables of malabsorption, and BMD of the lumbar spine were evaluated. RESULTS: In patients with chronic pancreatitis, the mean body mass index (BMI) was 18.46 kg/m² and the median 25-hydroxyvitamin D value was 15.5 (range, 5.0 to 52.0) ng/mL. A T-score of less than -2.5 was found in a higher proportion of study patients (9 of 31, 29%) than of control subjects (3 of 35, 9%). BMI correlated significantly with BMC (r = 0.426; P = .017). There was an inverse correlation between stool fat and BMC (r = -0.47; P = .03) in patients with chronic pancreatitis and steatorrhea. There was no significant correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D or biochemical variables and BMD. Patients with steatorrhea had a significantly lower BMC than did those without steatorrhea, and this difference could not be accounted for by differences in BMI, presence of diabetes, or hypovitaminosis D. CONCLUSION: Pancreatic osteodystrophy is a novel entity consisting of osteopenia, osteoporosis, and osteomalacia in patients with chronic pancreatitis. The inverse correlation between stool fat and BMC in patients with chronic pancreatitis, the strong positive correlation between BMI and BMC, and the lack of difference in BMC between subjects with vitamin D sufficiency and those with vitamin D deficiency suggest that long-standing malabsorption with attendant chronic undernutrition is the major factor contributing to the changes in BMC.